Man admits exporting missile components to Iran

Staff report

An Iranian man today pleaded guilty in a Chicago federal courtroom to trying to illegally export missile parts and other equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. law, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office said today.

Authorities say Davoud Baniameri in 2008 ordered radio test sets from an Illinois company from his home in California at the behest of a codefendant in Iran. Once he received them, Baniameri shipped them to Iran via Dubai. He later ordered connector adapters for two American missile systems from federal agents posing as representatives of an Illinois company and planned to fly to Iran with them. He was arrested before he left the country.

A radio test set is an instrument used to determine characteristics of radio signals, while the connector adapters are a key component that connects the guidance system in the TOW and TOW2 missile systems to the assembly that houses the individual missiles themselves. Exporting either component without a license is prohibited by federal law.

Baniameri remains in federal custody pending his sentencing on Aug. 4. One codefendant, Andro Telemi, is still awaiting trial, and another, Majid Mousavi, is a fugitive and is believed to be in Iran.

Baniameri, who lived in Woodland Hills, Calif., faces up to 10 years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and up to 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act. He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count. His plea agreement calls on the judge to sentence him to 46 to 57 months in federal prison.